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I am battle-scarred Democratic veteran of the war of 1994 and in my opinion, the Contract with America with specific legislative proposals was an important part of the Republican victory that year.

In 1994, voters were hostile to President Clinton and the Democratic Congress but they also wanted a fairly good idea of what the GOP would offer as an alternative. Democrats joked about the "Contract on America" but it was important for Republicans to give Americans something to vote for before they voted against the Democrats.

Even though, the Contract with America played a key role in the GOP victory, my prediction is the Republicans will punt this year and failure to come up with anything specific.

The reason is that Republicans fear touching the third rail of American politics which is Social Security. The New York Times survey released today showed Tea Party supporters are very supportive of Social Security.

Republican budget experts like Paul Ryan know that the only way they can reduce the federal budget without new taxes is to cut social security and if they do so, they risk alienating their own base of American Americans and Tea Partiers.

The GOP will come up with a host of empty platitudes because the party doesn't have the courage of its own convictions when it comes to government spending. Just ask former Republican President, George W. Bush.

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